Back from Stockholm guys, and here is my newest article:
When watching the HBO series Mad Men you get an hunger for certain things: cigarettes, red-haired women, scotch and to get dressed like the old days.
There is something about the fifties and early sixties in USA and its impeccable style. The men had return from war, smoking was considered healthy, JFK was running for president, and the women never left their house without hair, makeup and outfit in perfect shape. That is if they ever left the house. Society was at its right course, making culture, fashion and luxury blossom.
Since the middleclass was growing, more and more people wanted to look like they were from the upper class. So when leaving the house, you had certain rules. To always wear make-up, the lipstick was like a gun – it could make a man do anything. To never be seen without hat and gloves or unmatched shoes and bag. High heels were mandatory, as well as stockings, and fabric should be chosen out of occasion.
If there is one designer worth mentioning that defines this era, it’s the legendary Christian Dior. Dior created what he called the “New Look”. This look enhanced the round shapes of a woman: big rounded bust, tiny waist and a big skirt shaped like a flower. Accessories where the Kelly bag from Chanel and the no. 5 perfume.
Many of the important icons of our time lived in this era. Representatives of the fresh, natural and naïve looking girls, where movie stars like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. In the Mad Men series, Betty, the perfect wife of Donald Draper, represents this look. The other group, the seductive, passionate and sexy women of the fifities and sixties contained pin up girls like Rita Hayworth and not to forget: Marilyn Monroe, who is considered the icon of the decade. The sexy secretary, Joan Harris, is an excellent example. Even I want a piece of that!
I remember a night the fire alarm went off in my building. While me and my roommate ran out in ugly sweats and big t-shirts, I remember an old lady came out with a long pink silk robe, her hair curled up in a net and lipstick on her lips. My point of this story being, that even though the woman was old, she looked better then we ever do. Lets learn a thing or two about the classiness of the old days. Style does go a long way.
And yeah, the dialogue in the series is very good as well…
